U.S. patent number 6,854,737 [Application Number 10/377,126] was granted by the patent office on 2005-02-15 for seal arrangement for an expansion motion joint.
This patent grant is currently assigned to MIGUA Fugensysteme GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Frank Fieger, Andreas Trawicki.
United States Patent |
6,854,737 |
Fieger , et al. |
February 15, 2005 |
Seal arrangement for an expansion motion joint
Abstract
In a sealing apparatus (1a) for an expansion joint (2) between
two structure bodies (4) with a flexible bridging unit (13a) and
two anchoring units (8a) which are arranged on opposite sides of
the expansion joint (2) and each comprises an integral flange (9a)
which can be connected with the associated structure body and a
lapped flange (10a) which can be secured by a clamping element
(11a) to the integral flange (9a) in the manner of a dovetail
connection, with the bridging unit being connectable with the
anchoring units in such way that it is clamped between the integral
flange (9a) and the lapped flange. The clamping element (11a)
substantially has the same strength as the integral flange
(9a).
Inventors: |
Fieger; Frank (Velbert,
DE), Trawicki; Andreas (Oberhausen, DE) |
Assignee: |
MIGUA Fugensysteme GmbH & Co.
KG (Wuelfrath, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
27675025 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/377,126 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 27, 2002 [DE] |
|
|
102 08 359 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
277/630; 277/637;
277/641; 52/302.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
1/6804 (20130101); E01D 19/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E01D
19/06 (20060101); E04B 1/68 (20060101); E01D
19/00 (20060101); F16J 015/02 (); E04B
001/70 () |
Field of
Search: |
;277/628,634,637,641,642-644,650-651,654 ;52/35,58,60-62,302.6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10025178 |
|
Oct 2001 |
|
DE |
|
1158101 |
|
Nov 2001 |
|
EP |
|
Primary Examiner: Sandy; Robert J.
Assistant Examiner: Patel; Vishal
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fasse; W. F. Fasse; W. G.
Parent Case Text
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application is based on and claims the priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 of German Patent Application 102 08 359.2, filed
on Feb. 27, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An expansion gap sealing device comprising a flexible bridging
unit and two anchoring units for securing said flexible bridging
unit in each of said anchoring units, each anchoring unit
comprising an integral flange with a respective dovetail groove and
an overlapping flange covering said respective dovetail groove,
said flexible bridging unit comprising two anchoring portions each
with a sectional dovetail configuration fitting into said
respective dovetail groove, and an elongated clamping element (11a,
11b) in said sectional dovetail configuration securing said
flexible bridging unit in said respective dovetail groove, said
elongated clamping element comprising a rigid body having a
cross-section permitting an insertion of said elongated clamping
element into said sectional dovetail configuration and permitting a
turning of said elongated clamping element about a longitudinal
axis of said elongated clamping element, said turning placing said
elongated clamping element in an anchoring position, and at least
one member (36, 43) securing said elongated clamping element in
said respective dovetail groove in said anchoring position.
2. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 1, wherein said
cross-section of said rigid body of said elongated clamping element
has a narrow dimension permitting said insertion of said elongated
clamping element into said sectional dovetail configuration in said
dovetail groove, and a wide dimension locking said elongated
clamping element in said anchoring position when said turning is
complete.
3. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 1, wherein said at
least one securing member (36) is a screw passing through said
overlapping flange into said elongated clamping element when said
elongated clamping element is in its turned anchoring position,
whereby said elongated clamping element bears against inwardly
facing walls of said sectional dovetail configuration and through
said walls against said respective dovetail groove.
4. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 3, wherein said screw
is a flathead screw bearing with its screw head against a hole rim
in said overlapping flange.
5. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 1, wherein said rigid
body of said elongated clamping element comprises a longitudinal
groove and wherein said at least one securing member (36) comprises
a self-tapping screw engaging said longitudinal groove.
6. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 1, wherein said
flexible bridging unit comprises at least one longitudinal sealing
lip, and wherein said integral flange comprises at least one lip
groove in which said at least one sealing lip is received.
7. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 1, wherein said
overlapping flange comprises said securing element (43) formed as
an inwardly extending supporting element (43) for securing said
elongated clamping element inside said dovetail configuration and
inside said dovetail groove whereby said supporting element (43)
bears against one inwardly facing surface of said dovetail groove
and said elongated clamping element bears against an opposite
surface of said dovetail groove when said inwardly extending
supporting element of said overlapping flange and said elongated
clamping element are inserted into said dovetail configuration.
8. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 7, wherein said
elongated clamping element and said inwardly extending supporting
element have mutually engaging curved contact surfaces for wedging
said elongated clamping element with said supporting element inside
said dovetail groove.
9. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 8, wherein said
mutually engaging curved contact surfaces comprise a concave
surface and a convex surface fitting into said concave surface.
10. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 7, wherein said
inwardly extending supporting element is rigidly secured to an
inwardly facing surface of said overlapping flange and wherein said
elongated clamping element is adjustably secured to said
overlapping flange for adjusting the position of said elongated
clamping element relative to said supporting element.
11. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 10, further
comprising screws (42) adjustably securing said elongated clamping
element to said overlapping flange and wherein tightening of said
screws (42) pulls said elongated clamping element against said
supporting element and against an inwardly facing wall of said
dovetail groove.
12. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 1, wherein said
integral flange comprises two legs (17a, 18; 17) having slanted
bearing surfaces facing each other and forming said dovetail groove
(19), said two legs having a spring elastic characteristic.
13. The expansion gap sealing device of claim 1, wherein said
elongated clamping element and said integral flange are made of
metal having a material strength and rigidity that is the same for
said elongated clamping element and for said integral flange.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sealing device for an expansion joint
between two structures. The device has a flexible bridging unit and
two anchoring units which are situated on opposite sides of the
expansion joint. Each unit comprises an integral or fixed flange
which can be connected with the structure body and a lapped or
overlapping flange which can be braced with the fixed flange by
means of a clamping element in the manner of a dovetail joint. The
bridging unit is connectable with the anchoring units in such a way
that it is clamped between the integral or fixed flange and lapped
or loose flange.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Sealing devices are used for example for bridging expansion joints
between concrete slabs in order to cover the expansion joint and to
prevent the penetration of foreign bodies or liquids on the one
hand and to allow secure driving and walking on parking decks
without placing excessive loads on the mutually opposite edges of
the structural bodies. Generally, known sealing devices comprise
two anchoring units which are each connected with the structure
bodies at mutually opposite edges and between which a substantially
elastic bridging unit is braced.
Each anchoring unit substantially consists of an integral flange
and a lapped flange, with the integral flange being fixedly
connected with the respective structure body by means of screwed
connections for example. The lapped flange can be connected with
the integral flange in such a way that the bridging unit is clamped
in a gap formed between the two. Generally known are sealing
apparatuses in which the lapped flange is connected with the
integral flange by means of a screwed connection penetrating the
bridging unit. Such sealing apparatuses have proven to be
disadvantageous because an opening is mandatorily produced with the
penetration of the bridging unit which allows the penetration of
humidity to the integral flange and to the expansion joint.
The screwed connected ranging from the surface of the anchoring
unit to the integral flange further constitutes an electrically as
well as thermally conductive connection to the structure body. Such
conductive connections are frequently undesirable both for security
reasons as well as bridges for the cold.
A sealing apparatus of the above generic kind is known from EP 1
158 101 A2. The integral flange comprises a dovetail-like groove
through whose opening cross section at first the bridging unit and
then a clamping element connected with the lapped flange can be
guided during the mounting. By shortening a press element, the
clamping element is elastically compressed and widens in the
direction of the width of the groove. In this way it presses
against the mutually opposite bearing surfaces of the groove that
in this region a non-positive connection is achieved between the
integral flange, the bridging unit, the clamping element and the
lapped flange. The use of a dovetail connection with an elastic
clamping element already eliminates the disadvantageous penetration
of the bridging unit and further facilitates and accelerates the
mounting of the sealing apparatus.
One disadvantage of the sealing apparatus according to EP 1 158 101
A2 is the fact, however, that the connection of the lapped flange
with the integral flange, and thus also the fixing of the bridging
unit, is considerably less tight as in known screwed connections.
It is feared that when driving over such a sealing apparatus
transversally to the expansion joint, especially in the case of
extreme acceleration or braking processes of truck vehicles for
example, the clamping element pressed into the groove would be
unable to withstand the occurring shearing forces transversally to
the longitudinal axis of the sealing apparatus could be torn out of
said groove with the lapped flange.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object of providing a sealing device
for bridging an expansion joint whose connection of lapped flange
and integral flange will also meet the extreme requirements that
must be met when vehicles drive over the expansion gap. The device
must be easily and quickly installed without penetrating the
bridging unit.
The invention further aims to avoid or overcome the disadvantages
of the prior art, and to achieve additional advantages, as apparent
from the present specification. The attainment of these objects is,
however, not a required limitation of the present invention.
The foregoing objects have been achieved in accordance with the
invention in such a way that the clamping element substantially has
the same strength as the integral flange. If the lapped flange is
braced by the clamping element with the integral flange in the
manner of a dovetail connection, the strength of the connection is
not limited by the material of the clamping element. A displacement
of the lapped or loose flange with respect to the integral flange
is only possible to the extent to which the bridging unit which is
clamped between the two flanges, is compressible. An elastic
deformation of the clamping element and the tearing out from the
connection under excessive load need not be expected.
The sealing apparatus in accordance with the invention is arranged
in the manner for example that an integral flange comprises a
dovetail-like spring extending in the longitudinal direction of the
sealing apparatus on whose mutually opposite bearing surfaces rest
on the on e hand the lapped flange and on the other hand the
clamping element. The sealing apparatus can then be mounted in an
especially simple manner because the delivery of the lapped flange
and clamping element to the respective bearing surfaces is not
obstructed.
A further and preferred embodiment of a sealing apparatus in
accordance with the invention comprises an integral flange with a
dovetail-like groove, and with the clamping element resting on one
or both mutually opposite bearing surfaces of the groove. The
groove is then open in the direction towards the lapped flange. For
mounting such a sealing apparatus the clamping element is
introduced into the groove through an opening cross section of the
groove. The clamping element is advantageously arranged in such a
way that, when it is tilted thereafter about the longitudinal axis
of the groove, it can no longer be removed from the groove without
tilting.
The sealing apparatus in accordance with the invention preferably
comprises a screw for connection of the lapped flange and clamping
element, with the screw head resting on the lapped flange. Such an
arrangement simplifies and accelerates the mounting and thus lowers
the production costs of the sealing apparatus. Especially
preferably screws with a self-cutting thread are used which engage
in the clamping element in a groove extending in the longitudinal
direction of the sealing apparatus. On the one hand, this enables
the production of the clamping element as a continuous or
rod-shaped merchandise. On the other hand, mounting is facilitated
in such a way that no fixed position of the clamping element with
respect to the lapped flange needs to be observed.
The bridging unit of a sealing apparatus in accordance with the
invention can be equipped with a sealing lip extending in the
longitudinal direction of the sealing apparatus, which sealing lip
is inserted during the mounting of the sealing apparatus into a
respective groove of the integral flange. Such a sealing lip
improves the sealing effect of the sealing apparatus. Moreover, the
mounting of the sealing apparatus is also facilitated in this way
because the region of the bridging unit inserted into the dovetail
connection is not pulled out by its weight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now
be described in connection with example embodiments, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a first embodiment of
the present sealing apparatus;
FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale a portion of the sealing
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3a to 3h show a sequence of mounting steps for installing the
apparatus of FIG. 1; and
FIGS. 4a and 4b show mounting for installing a second embodiment of
the present sealing apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND OF THE BEST
MODE OF THE INVENTION
The sealing apparatus 1a covers and protects the upwardly open
expansion joint 2 between the mutually opposite edges 3 of two
structure bodies 4. FIG. 1 shows this arrangement in a sectional
view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the expansion
joint 2. The sealing apparatus 1a, which is shown here in an
exemplary manner, is arranged in a mirror-symmetrical fashion
relative to a perpendicularly extending central plane 5 of the
expansion joint 2. Sealing apparatuses (not shown herein) without
such a symmetry are used for other applications.
The structure bodies 4 each comprise a useful layer 6 which in this
case is an asphalt paving with a traffic surface 7. An anchoring
unit 8 is flush with the traffic surface 7 of said layer at the two
edges 3 of the structure body 4. The anchoring units 8 each
comprise an integral flange 9a and a lapped flange 10a which are
braced by means of clamping elements 11a in the manner of a
dovetail connection and which hold in a gap 12a between the
integral flange 9a and the lapped flange 10a a rubber-elastic
bridging unit 13a which spans the expansion joint 2. The integral
flanges 9a are held on a compensating layer 14 and are anchored in
the structure bodies 4 by means of screws 15 and dowels 16.
FIG. 2 shows in an enlarged detail of the sealing apparatus 1a the
connection of an integral flange 9a and the associated lapped
flange 10a. The integral flange 9a comprises an upwardly open
dovetail groove 19 with mutually opposite bearing surfaces 20
between a holding leg 17a and a relief leg 18. The holding leg 17a
and the relief leg 18 project beyond a horizontally extending end
section 21a of the integral flange 9a and provide the same with the
shape of an F. The holding leg 17a and the relief leg 18 are
provided with rectangular sealing grooves 22 and 23. The holding
leg 17a, the relief leg 18, the dovetail groove 19, the end section
21a and the sealing grooves 22 and 23 extend perpendicular to the
illustrated sectional view in the longitudinal direction of the
integral flange 9a configured as an extruded aluminum profile.
The lapped flange 10a is a strip of steel sheet with a cross
section which is bent off in an L-shaped manner and comprises a
plurality of sunk bores 24 arranged successively behind each other
at the same distance in its longitudinal direction extending
perpendicular to the illustrated sectional view. The clamping
element 11a comprises a substantially hexagonal cross section and a
groove 25 extending in its longitudinal direction and is arranged
in a mirror-symmetrical fashion with respect to a central plane 26
of the groove 25. The clamping element 11a is also made of an
extruded aluminum profile.
The rubber-elastic bridging unit 13a is provided with a
mirror-symmetrical arrangement with respect to a central plane 27
extending in its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the
illustrated section view. In the mounted state, the bridging unit
13a comprises in said central plane 27 a groove 28 which is open in
the direction of the useful layer 6, which groove is bordered on
either side by a substantially rectangular, closed hollow profile
29 and, adjacent thereto, a thin holding strip 30. The holding
strips 30 are secured to the hollow profiles 29 in such a way that,
when mounting occurs, both are flush in the direction of the useful
layer 6. On the side opposite of the useful layer 6, a sealing lip
31 is attached to the holding strips 30, respectively.
When mounting the illustrated sealing apparatus 1a, the integral
flanges 9a are aligned at first with the opposite edges 3 of the
structure bodies 4 on the compensating layer 14 and then fixed. The
useful layer 6 is then applied. Thereafter the rubber-elastic
supplementary strips 32 are positioned which engage with the
sealing lip 33 in the sealing grooves 22 of the holding legs 17a.
The sealing lips 33 are provided with a toothing (not shown)
against inadvertent extraction from the sealing grooves 22. The
supplementary strips 32 grasp around the holding legs 17a and end
on the useful layer 6, which is sunk with respect to surface 7
thereby connecting to the integral flanges 9a.
The bridging unit 13a is then positioned in such a way that the
holding strips 30 engage in the dovetail grooves 19, and that the
sealing lips 31 functioning as mounting aids, engage in the sealing
grooves 23 of the relief legs 18. The holding strips 30 overlap in
the region of the holding legs 17a with the supplementary strips 32
and, together with the same, ensure an effective sealing in the
direction towards the surface 7.
FIGS. 3a to 3h show a schematically substantially simplified
representation of successive stages of the now occurring insertion
of the clamping element 11a into the dovetail groove 19 in which a
holding strip 30 of the bridging unit 13a is already positioned.
The clamping element 11a is swiveled according to FIG. 3a relative
to the mounting position about its longitudinal axis by
approximately 90.degree. and introduced with a narrow side 34 at
first into the dovetail groove 19, swiveled back about its
longitudinal axis according to FIGS. 3b to 3g until it rests, as is
shown in FIG. 3h. in the mounted position in the dovetail groove
19. Without a renewed swiveling of the clamping element 11a about
its longitudinal axis the same cannot be removed from the dovetail
groove 19 again.
The lapped flange 10a is then placed in such a way that the
shorter, bent leg 35 of the lapped flange 10a grasps around the
holding leg 17a of the integral flange 9a. Self-cutting
counter-sunk head screws 36 are introduced into the groove 25 of
the clamping element 11a through the bores 24 of the lapped flange
10a.
By tightening the countersunk head screws 36, whose heads 37 rest
on the sunk bores 24 of the lapped flange 10a, the clamping element
11a in the dovetail groove 19 is pulled in the direction towards
the lapped flange 10a and rests on the mutually opposite bearing
surfaces 20 of the dovetail groove 19. In this way the lapped
flange 10a is fixedly connected with the integral flange 9a on the
one hand. On the other hand, the holding strip 30 of the bridging
unit 13a resting in the dovetail groove 19 is clamped between the
bearing surfaces 20 of the dovetail groove 19 and the clamping
element 11a and is fixed in its position.
To complete the mounting of the illustrated sealing apparatus 1a,
the intermediate space 38 formed between the bent leg 35 of the
lapped flange 10a and the useful layer 6 is filled with a jointing
compound 39.
The lapped flange 10a and the jointing compound 39 are flush with
the drivable surface 7 of the useful layer 6, so that an
arrangement is obtained which can be driven over in a substantially
jolt-free fashion by a vehicle (not shown) in connection with a
comparatively small offset between the lapped flange 10a and the
bridging unit 13a in the expansion joint 2. Horizontal forces which
are introduced into the lapped flange 10a are supported by the bent
leg 35 of the lapped flange 10a and the comparatively stiff
jointing compound 39 in the useful layer 6. The clamping elements
11a are therefore not subjected to any considerable dynamic
horizontal forces.
The same effect of a horizontal force relief of the clamping
elements 11a is achieved by a convexly curved edge strip 40 of the
lapped flange 10 which faces the expansion joint 2 and which
projects into the expansion gap cross section across the relief leg
18. Since the bridging unit 13a in the expansion joint 2 is
slightly recessed with respect to the traffic surface 7 of the
useful layer 6, the same is nearly completely protected from
contact with the vehicle wheels.
The sealing apparatus 1b as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b in a sectional
view corresponding to that of FIG. 2 differs from the sealing
apparatus 1a of FIG. 1 merely by a different configuration of the
lapped flange 10, and the clamping 11b of the anchoring unit
8b.
The clamping element 11b in the FIGS. 4a and 4b shows a
substantially hexagonal cross section. In comparison with the
clamping element 11a of the sealing apparatus 1a of FIG. 1 the
width is clearly reduced and a contact surface 41 is curved in a
concave fashion. The clamping element 11b further does not comprise
a groove, but bores (not shown) in the direction of the illustrated
central line 42, which bores are arranged in a successive manner in
the longitudinal direction of the clamping element which extends
perpendicular to the illustrated sectional view. The clamping
element 11b is also made as a continuous extruded aluminum
profile.
Like the lapped flange 10a of FIG. 1, the lapped flange 10 of FIGS.
4a and 4b is also a sheet steel strip with a cross section bent off
in an L-shaped manner which comprises a plurality of sunk bores
(not shown) in the direction of the central line 42, which bores
are disposed in a successive fashion in its longitudinal direction
extending perpendicularly to the illustrated sectional view. A
supporting element 43 made of a continuously drawn steel profile is
welded together with the lapped flange 10. The supporting element
43 has a substantially rectangular cross section, with a contact
surface 44 being curved in a convex manner according to the contact
surface 41 of the clamping element 11b .
For the purpose of mounting the sealing apparatus 1b the lapped
flange 10 is pre-mounted with the clamping element 11b by means of
screws (not shown) engaging through the bores of the lapped flange
10 in the bores of the clamping element 11b. As in the sealing
apparatus 1a of FIG. 1, self-cutting countersunk head screws are
used in this case as well.
When the lapped flange 10 is positioned, its shorter, bent-off leg
35 grasps around the holding leg 17 of the integral flange 9a. At
the same time, the clamping element 11b, which is suspended by
means of the screws (not shown) and moves in a loose pendulum
fashion, is introduced into the dovetail groove 19.
By tightening the screws (not shown) whose heads on their part rest
on the sunk bores (not shown) of the lapped flange 10, the clamping
element 11b is pulled in the dovetail groove 19 in the direction
towards the lapped flange 10 and rests on the one hand with its
concavely curved contact surface 41 on the convexly curved contact
surface 44 of the supporting element 43 and, through the same, on a
bearing surface 20 of the dovetail groove 19, and on the other hand
directly on the opposite bearing surface 20 of the dovetail groove
19.
In this case too the lapped flange 10 is fixedly connected with the
integral flange 9a on the one hand. On the other hand, the holding
strip of the bridging unit 13 resting in the dovetail groove 19 is
clamped between the bearing surfaces 20 of the dovetail groove 19
and the clamping element 11b and is fixed in its position. In
comparison with the sealing apparatus 1a of FIG. 1, the mounting of
the sealing apparatus 1b in FIGS. 4a and 4b is again clearly
simplified and its mounting can be quickly performed.
Although the invention has been described with reference to
specific example embodiments, it will be appreciated that it is
intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the
scope of the appended claims. It should also be understood that the
present disclosure includes all possible combinations of any
individual features recited in any of the appended claims.
* * * * *